Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, lights a giant Menorah outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during a ceremony celebrating the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of women dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday evening, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of women dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday evening, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, welcomes guests to the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of women dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday evening, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of women dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday evening, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of men, including Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, left center, and Laguna Niguel Mayor Pro Tem Fred Minagar, right center, dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, lights a giant Menorah outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during a ceremony celebrating the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, welcomes guests to the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

City of Laguna Niguel Parks and Recreation staff members help serve latkes, sufganiyot, and other Chanukah treats during a Menorah Lighting ceremony at City Hall on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, welcomes guests to the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of women dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday evening, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of men, including Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, lights a giant Menorah outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during a ceremony celebrating the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Chabad of Laguna Niguel members, and others, celebrate the first day of Chanukah during the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

A group of women dance together following the annual Menorah Lighting ceremony at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday evening, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, from Chabad of Laguna Niguel, lights a giant Menorah outside the Laguna Niguel City Hall during a ceremony celebrating the first night of Chanukah on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Sima Burston, 8, of Los Angeles takes a taste of a cookie that she decorated during a Menorah Lighting and Chanukah celebration at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Risha Paltiel, 9, of Laguna Niguel, daughter of Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, creates a Menorah cookie during a celebration of the first night of Chanukah at the Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

The community turned out to Laguna Niguel City Hall on Sunday, Dec. 22, for the city’s annual menorah-lighting ceremony. Co-sponsored by the city and Chabad of Laguna Niguel, the festive event marked the first day of the Jewish Festival of Lights. Guests were treated to live entertainment, crafts and traditional Hanukkah foods — latkes and round jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot.

Jennifer Karmarkar joined the Orange County Register in 2012 as a reporter for the weekly Laguna Woods Globe, where she has enjoyed delving into issues unique to the senior community. She is currently city editor for the Globe as well as Aliso Viejo News and Laguna Niguel News.

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